Ask Dr. Gates: Am I too old for orthodontic treatment?

The short answer is: of course not.

Recently, our staff here at Round Rock Orthodontics read a fascinating statistic: adults getting braces has jumped 24 percent from just 14 years ago! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Dr. Gates can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Gates would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call at (512) 244-2644 to set one up!

A great braces-friendly spring recipe! From Round Rock Orthodontics

Winter is almost over, and the weather is finally starting to get warmer. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) spring dish that is sure to delight. Dr. Gates and team want you to remember a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment here at Round Rock Orthodontics.

Soy Simmered Chicken Wraps
Ingredients:
• 3 boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 large onions, chunked
• Small flour tortillas (pkg. of ten) wheat or white
• (optional: 10-16 oz. of cooked chopped broccoli)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup water
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger
• 2 Tablespoons peach or apricot jam
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

In a slow cooker, or a large pan on the stove, layer the onions and the chicken breast. Allow at least three hours in the slow cooker on medium, or at least one hour on the stove—the longer the better, but you don’t have to do anything to it while it cooks. Spoon out the chicken onto a cutting board, and with a knife and fork, shred the chicken as finely as you’d like. In a small saucepan, stir all sauce ingredients together over medium heat until the mixture starts bubbling, then let it simmer for five minutes on low heat to thicken. In a serving bowl, stir sauce and onion into chicken; if you’d like, add cooked chopped broccoli. Makes about six to eight servings.

Enjoy this great spring dish and have a great rest of the week!

What are patients saying about Round Rock Orthodontics?

Round Rock Orthodontics, serving Round Rock and surrounding communities in Travis and Williamson Counties, deliver the highest quality orthodontic care in a personalized environment. We make orthodontic treatment fun and enjoyable. Just see what our patients have to say!

"He is easy to talk to and seems to be really down to earth. He made my son feel very comfortable and that is very important to me." ~ Arnetris W.

"Dr. Gates takes time to explain what needs to be done and why. He communicates with my family dentist about my case. Dr. Gates takes time out to call me to see how I am doing or to further explain my treatment." ~ Carla F.

"Not pushy and works with you to get the best results." ~ Adam K.

"The professionalism of the office - everyone is extremely friendly, it is very clean, and we've never had to wait for our appointment!" ~ Larry W.

"He is straight-forward - open communication, friendly and efficient staff." ~ Regina S.

"Friendly, professional doctor and staff. Comfortable atmosphere. Kept updated about sons' progress after every appointment. Immediate response to questions." ~ David T.

Ask Dr. Gates: Who really benefits from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Dr. Paul Gates will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment, whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. In as little as eighteen months, you could have a brilliant, straight new smile! Visit Dr. Gates for a consultation, and learn how timing of treatment, the right procedures, and the right orthodontist, can restore your or your child's smile. We happily treat patients of all ages, and understand the special benefits of beginning orthodontics in the early teen years.

As for adults, we recently read an interesting fact: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! In fact, one of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over 21.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Call us today for your initial consultation and learn why Dr. Gates is the trusted family orthodontist giving Round Rock, Texas, and surrounding areas something to truly smile about!